Florida consumer confidence remains near post-recession high

Florida consumer confidence stayed near a post-recession high heading into the final week before the presidential election, according to a University of Florida survey released Tuesday.

The preliminary October reading stood at 79, just below September's, which was revised a point higher to 80. Although that's the highest range of optimism since the Great Recession officially ended in 2009, that level is still considered historically low.

Economists watch confidence levels closely because consumer spending accounts for about two-thirds of the economy.